A chocolate Lab crashed into Stockwell Day early one morning in January and knocked the former MP and president of the Treasury Board out of the Boston Marathon. “I’m even more cautious now about dogs and I don’t assume the dog is going to stay still — even the tiniest of dogs,” says Day, 60, from his home in Kelowna, B.C. “It’s frustrating because the speed takes time to rebuild, but the lungs are OK and the legs are OK and it’s great when you’re finally able to get back out there.”

After taking a few months off to recover, Day, who announced his retirement from Parliament in March, is returning to running at the Banff Jasper Relay in June. With an eye on running a fall marathon and once again qualifying for Boston — even though the marathon has made their qualifying times more challenging — Day says he appreciates running more now after his absence, and that it might make him a hungrier athlete.

“I’m adding hills every week now, and I’m determined that even if I have to crawl to the top, I will,” says Day, who will be competing alongside his sons in June’s relay and says their tough-love encouragement has kept him from playing the sympathy card. “Each year you get older, you lose a certain percentage of efficiency, so I’m running against time, but I’ve always been a goal-setter and I can work harder — I don’t want to abandon my goals.”

When you’re just starting out, a reasonable goal is simply walking three times a week. Eventually, you’ll be able to jog continuously and then, a transformation occurs, and you’re no longer running just to lose weight or quit smoking, but now you’re monitoring how fast you go, and over what distances.

Thelma Wright is the national long-distance running coach for Athletics Canada, and she believes that Stockwell Day, like many of her athletes, may gain something from his fall.

“It defines who you are; you either give it up or, if you have that passion, come back more focused,” says Wright, a seven-time Canadian cross-country champion. Wright gives many examples of Canadian athletes who found greatness after hardship, but none are as glowing as the case of Silken Laumann. Laumann, a rower from Vancouver, was speared by an oar in 1992 and told she’d never walk again. But the former competitive runner not only returned to her sport five weeks later, and she earned a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

“As is often the case, you don’t know what paradise is until you don’t have it,” says Wright, who adds that the toughness learned by going through difficulties can do more for a runner than even the most gruelling interval training or hills. “Maturity comes from old age, but it also comes from life experience: Adversity can define even the most casual athlete as they move along in their sport.”

For Day, long-distance running became a lifestyle decision that prompted him to get up at 4 a.m. one January morning when he was taken out by a dog. Today, without the demands of politics — and with pride motivating him to prove he can get back where he was — Day is back on the trails, bolstering both his strength and confidence.

“My sister had some bad tendon problems, but she’s back and she qualified for Boston, and it would be sweet if we could run Boston together,” says Day, who was meeting up with his sister when he fell on that fateful morning. “She’s gone out along that path to look for the dog, but she’s convinced the owner keeps him tied up in the backyard because he’s fearing a lawsuit.”

And that’s the thing about training. No matter how much it hurts, there’s always worse things you could be doing than going out on a run.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.